Set in the heart of one of the world’s most famous and dynamic cities, New York University (NYU), USA is a top-ranked private research higher ed institution with an enrollment of over 50,000 students mentored by 3,100 full-time faculty. Founded in 1831 by Albert Gallatin, who served as secretary of the treasury under Presidents Thomas Jefferson and James Madison, with the objective of establishing “in this immense and fast-growing city… a system of rational and practical education fitting for all and graciously opened to all”, New York University, USA has evolved into a globally respected university ranked among the best higher education institutions within the US and worldwide. The US News and World Report ranks it #32 in its America’s Best Colleges 2013 rankings while Times Higher Education ranks it #40 in its World University Rankings 2013-14.

Currently New York University’s 14 schools and colleges offer over 2,500 study programmes in the humanities, science, and social sciences; law; medicine; business; education; fine arts, studio art, performing and cinematic arts; music; social work; public administration; the ancient world; and continuing and professional studies. With NYU’s campus sited in downtown Manhattan’s Greenwich Village and many academic and administrative buildings and residence halls bordering Washington Square Park, the varsity’s location within New York City (NYC) provides students myriad opportunities to soak in the plethora of social, cultural, business and leisure buzz the Big Apple offers.

Its New York campus apart, New York University is also the first US university to establish a comprehensive liberal arts campus in Abu Dhabi with another fully-fledged research campus in Shanghai, China, inaugurated earlier this year. Comments John Sexton, president of NYU: “Today, New York University, USA is the first truly global network university, tied into the worldwide flow of talent, with portal campuses in Abu Dhabi and Shanghai, acad-emic sites for teaching and research throughout the world, and the largest number of students studying abroad of any US college or university.”

New York City. Although its famous Twin Towers no longer pierce the Manhattan skyline, NYC (pop.8.4 million) is still regarded as the nerve centre of international business and hosts some of the world’s premier business and finance corporates. The Big Apple also boasts more globally famous landmarks than any other city of the world — the Empire State and Chrysler buildings, Statue of Liberty, Brooklyn Bridge, and Ground Zero. Other popular attractions include Staten Island Ferry, the streets of SoHo (offering fine art galleries and upscale boutiques), Greenwich Village, Little Italy, Chinatown, Grand Central Station, Times Square, Central Park, Metropolitan Museum of Fine Art and the American Folk Art Museum.

With NYU’s campus sited in Manhattan’s Greenwich Village and many of its buildings and residences bordering Washington Square Park, the neigbhourhood sidewalks are vibrant with students on their way to class, and New York University, USA community members fill its restaurants, shops and other businesses.

Campus facilities. Most of NYU’s buildings are located across a 229-acre area bounded by Houston Street to the south, Broadway to the east, 14th Street to the north, and Sixth Avenue to the west. However the epicentre of NYU is its Washington Square campus in the heart of Greenwich Village — a historic neighbourhood which has traditionally attracted writers, musicians, artists, and intellectuals. In keeping with its founder’s vision of creating a university “in and of the city”, NYU — which has no walls and no gates — is deeply intertwined with the city. Classrooms, laboratories, theatres, galleries, residence halls, and student service offices are housed in state-of-the-art buildings across Manhattan.

In addition to its Manhattan locations, NYU is also formally affiliated with the Polytechnic Institute of NYU in Brooklyn, the second oldest school of engineering and technology in the US, and has research facilities, notably the Nelson Institute of Environmental Medicine, in Sterling Forest near Tuxedo, New York.

NYU Libraries is a nine-library, 5.1 million-volume system with the flagship Elmer Holmes Bobst Library housing more than 3.7 million volumes, 58,000 serial titles, and over 5.4 million microforms, and thousands of electronic resources. Sports facilities include the Palladium Athletic Facility (deep-water pool, gym, volleyball and basketball); the Jerome S. Coles Sports Center (which offers a wide range of individual and group recreational sports and fitness activities); Chelsea Piers Sports & Entertainment Complex (28-acre waterfront sports village); Van Cortlandt Park (cross-country course and trails); Manhattan College’s Gaelic Park (multipurpose outdoor athletics facility); Pier 40 Athletic Fields; Stadium Tennis Center and National Tennis Center.

Moreover, with over 400 student clubs and organisations, hundreds of sports and residence hall activities, guest lectures, film screenings, city excursions and community service opportunities, there’s a surfeit of cultural and social activities on offer. The Kimmel Center is the hub of student activities, and the expansive Washington Square Building houses the university’s largest dining hall, lounges, galleries, practice rooms, auditorium spaces, and outdoor terraces. The Shorin Performance Center, Skirball Center for the Performing Arts, and Ticket Central are also located in the Kimmel Center, making it a hub of culture and arts and students’ life resource.

Admission. The minimum eligibility for admission into NYU’s undergraduate degree programmes is successful completion of Plus Two (Indian School Certificate (ISC); All India Senior School Certificate Examination (AISSCE) or Higher Secondary School Certificate (HSC)). Foreign students are also required to submit proof of proficiency in the English language (TOEFL, IELTS or PTE scores are acceptable) and the SAT Reasoning Test; or ACT with Writing Test; or three SAT Subject Test scores. Students must also submit the Common Application, which includes a Writing Supplement, online (www.nyu.edu) together with a non-refundable application fee of $70 (Rs.4,200). The application form should be accompanied by official score reports of all standardised tests; secondary school report transcript; and one teacher evaluation. The deadline is January 1 for admission into the term beginning September.

For further information contact Office of Undergraduate Admission, New York University, 665 Broadway, 11th Floor, New York, NY  10012, USA. Ph: +1 212.998.4500; email: admissions.ops @nyu.edu; website: www.nyu.edu.

New York University, USA also offers postgraduate studies in the arts and sciences, as well as a range of professional degrees in law, medicine, education, dentistry, public administration, business, social work, and the arts. Each graduate school stipulates its own distinct admission requirements. Check out www.nyu.edu for details.

Accommodation. NYU’s 20 residence halls house 11,000 undergraduate and graduate students. Most residence halls are centred around the university’s Washington Square campus while some are located in other neighbourhoods. Apartment-style residence halls provide kitchens.

For students choosing to live in non-NYU housing, the Student Resource Center’s Off Campus Living site (http://www.nyu.edu/life/living-at-nyu/off-campus-living.html) has a number of resources and links to assist with the apartment search process, including a Housing and Roommate Registry.

Degree programmes. NYU’s 14 schools and colleges offer more than 2,500 courses and award over 25 different degrees (see box).